City centre shopping precincts

This safe story reminds me of an incident in a village not far from Coventry. A friend of mine was offered a safe for free as long as he could remove it from the shop. The owner had tried to sell it and nobody could remove it as it weighed about half a ton. We got a group together, borrowed a Range Rover and a substantial trailer with a strong winch. We went along about 10.30 in the evening with the key to the shop the owner had lent us. The shop was on the main road through the village and we had to position the trailer and winch across the road to extract the safe using a series of rollers to ease it across the floor, pavement and into the trailer. The pubs were closing at the time and many people walked past us, mostly joking that we were raiding the shop at the wrong time with too many witnesses around. In hindsight we were amazed that no police turned up to question what we were doing!

My first wife worked as a window dresser for Richard Shops in the late 60's early 70's.

Hi Ladies, I rather liked staring into Alice Middleton's window on paydays. Not in the precinct I know but then there was Jax - a stones throw away from the Elephant. Row upon row of blouses and I swear there were 80% of embroidery englaise in the window. (pardon my French). Sorry Mick I can't remember where Richards was. Yes Anne, the good old days. I was able to stretch my earnings further then than I do now. How I got away with wearing a mini I will never know.

Richards was about 3 or 4 shops down on the left going from Broadgate as far as I remember. They had the mire dressy stuff upstairs, yes, minis. I did not have mine as short as some as had quite chunky legs, but yes I wore them as well. Got married in one. So glad when tights came out but the first ones were horrible from Woolworths.

I bought my first mini from a boutique across from Burtons. It was a mustardy coloured fine cord fabric. My friend, Pat Kennedy and I used to get our tights from an Indian man who had a stall on the market. We'd go almost every Friday clutching our 1/11d. I was sad to hear of Mary Quants death last week but amazed at her age. For some reason, I thought she was only about five years older than us.

Hi all, Whilst in Coventry today, I visited the central market cafe for dinner. Ambiance. Zero. Food quality & value Ace. Where can I go for a feast like that, broccoli, cauliflower, boiled & roast potatoes, yorkshire, carrots, all fresh that day, but wait! £7.50? At present, that's my once a week treat. Usually a choice of two roast meats. The only alternative to that I know of are carverys, but not at that value or including fresh veg, florets in particular!

Hi all, More importantly, the couple who own & run the market cafe are retiring, so the business lease is up for sale. The cafe opened in 1965. They've been there as long as I can remember. They commute many miles each & every opening time. I wish them a very happy & meaningful retirement.